AcerN30, the thing that you are not understanding here is the idea of abstraction. Visual Basic abstracts all the nitty-gritty stuff from you. In other words, it hides all the deep stuff from you and gives you these simple 1-line commands to do the things you want. Abstraction can be a good thing, and at times it can be a bad thing.

In terms of abstraction, C and C++ do not do as much abstraction for you as Visual Basic. Hence you have to write much more code in order to create windows, draw squares, and do many tasks that would take less lines of code in Visual Basic. Is this a bad thing? No. C and C++ programs perform hundreds of times more efficiently than Visual Basic programs do, and they truly give the programmer access to the system. But to be proficient in C and C++ you need to know what you are doing. You need to know at the very least know how memory/pointers work, or else you will completely fall on your face.

You are frustrated because you cannot do the same things in one line of code in C/C++ as you could do in Visual Basic, but you are not putting forth the effort or showing any willingness to learn how things are properly supposed to be done in the C/C++ languages. Be willing to learn.

Does this mean that there is no way to reduce the amount of lines of code that exist in a C/C++ program? No. There are several APIs that programmers use that provide nice functionality for them and some additional levels of abstraction, but you need to understand how to program in the standard C/C++ language before you start using those APIs.

Hmm, so just trying to learn the gfx part would be pointless without learning A? then b

As well, how would it work for a pocket pc?

With VB, you have a template. Where is that with C?

05-02-2008

h3ro

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Hmm, so just trying to learn the gfx part would be pointless without learning A? then b

Close to impossible

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With VB, you have a template. Where is that with C?

I recommend downloading a compiler and start some tutorials

05-02-2008

DavidP

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so just trying to learn the gfx part would be pointless

ditto

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With VB, you have a template. Where is that with C?

I haven't programmed in Visual Basic since the 8th grade (that's....10 years ago?), so I really quite honestly don't know what a VB "template" is. I assume it is some kind of pre-made project template that already has some code written for you....? Is that what you mean?

05-03-2008

Elysia

Maybe you could try C++. It supports OOP (ie classes), which is a bit closer to VB. Many frameworks are also written in C++.
With C++, it is typically easier to do abstraction (IMHO) and it allows you to get closer to typical VB syntax.
Not to mention, most games are written in C++.
For handhelds and embedded devices and stuff, usually C is the way to go for some reason. But since C++ has its roots in C, it can do everything C can (technical: it fully supports C89, not C99), so there's no bad thing in going for C++ and learning for both your C and C++ needs.

05-03-2008

VirtualAce

I would say a VB template and a C++ template are quite different. They are not even playing on the same field. A C++ template is far more complex than anything you will find in VB.

I think the common thread here is that you need to learn C/C++ prior to really trying to start on any projects using it. Small console apps will help you learn the language and then you can gradually step up. Keep in mind since C++ is very abstract as has been pointed out programming with C++ in Windows is going to require a significant amount of code as well as some rudimentary Win32 API and Win32 fundamental knowledge. Even knowing the API won't help if you don't know how a Win32 program actually works.

Take it slow, be open and willing to learn new things, ask questions, code, code, code, code, and you will be well on your way to learning what you need to get the job done.

C/C++ are not the only languages out there (thank goodness) but they are both extremely powerful and extremely efficient languages. The only language that tops the performance of these is pure assembly and only if its hand-tuned. C/C++ puts a lot of power in the hands of the programmer, but how, when, and where to use that power is really not that apparent and requires a lot of learning. It's my personal opinion but right now C/C++ is the most powerful language out there. I haven't come across anything else that I like nearly as much as C/C++.

05-04-2008

AcerN30

I just wanted to say, I did find that there was a compiler for the python language some time back.

But it wasn't complete you couldn't run any code.

Um, the mobile template is a image template that shows a pocket pc, with the buttons etc

You click on these parts of the pda and it opens into the code window.

You then type out you're code.

I think maybe the only free alternative is C++ visual thing, whatever on the MS site with a mobile template.

I'm viewing this board on my pocket pc.

Windows mobile 2003

32mb rom, 55mb ram, 266mhz processor.

Using C or + whatever i could make it small and efficient if this were to work out...

It is my personal opinion that you should start by downloading GCC, get a good book (like from Amazon), learn the language by using those tools, and then move into Visual Studio Express, C++Builder, or one of those other things.

You mentioned Python. Python is a completely different language, but it is also a very good language. The Python interpreter can be found here. But I wouldn't worry about Python right now if you want to focus on C or C++.

05-04-2008

AcerN30

Well my main reason for making a game is for the pocket pc using C.

No one here has done this?

05-04-2008

cboard_member

Apparently not but that doesn't mean we can't help you if you start doing it yourself.

05-04-2008

VirtualAce

Software and code work the same regardless of the platform. The principles remain the same albeit the implementation may differ somewhat,